Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Hot Stove Night with Speaker Cate Kratville-Wrinn
2024-04-09 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Cate Kratville-Wrinn is a railroad historian and journalist who is currently documenting the restoration of equipment donated by the Union Pacific to Railroading Heritage Midwest in Silvis, IL. Join Cate as she presents a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of the historic UP steam engines #3985Challenger and #5511 2-10-2 as well as Centennial diesel #6936.
Hot Stove Nights are free to the public and include complimentary soda, coffee, or water and cookies.
Please enter through the North Shore Scenic Railroad entrance at the back of the Depot.

Murder on the Northern Express: An Immersive Murder Mystery Event
2024-04-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
All aboard the mysterious Northern Express for this 1920’s inspired life-size game of Clue! Enjoy snacks, drinks, and conversations as you try and unravel the mystery hidden amidst railroad-themed elegance. A murder most foul has been discovered and with train cars to explore, many suspicious passengers, and a missing weapon you must channel your inner detective to crack the case. Step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot and join the fun at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on April 13th, 2024 starting at 7 pm. Prizes will go to the top 3 sleuths!
1920’s inspired costumes are welcome and encouraged. On the night of the event participants will receive a top secret packet with character information, starting clues, and the rules of the game. This game is brought to you by Ivy Bee Productions in partnership with the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. This event is recommended for ages 16+. It is not a train ride, but a train themed event inside the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
Tickets are on sale now through March 29, 2024

Duo tickets: $80/2 people
Single tickets: $45/person
LSRM member tickets: $40/person
Each ticket includes one free drink ticket that can be redeemed at the cash bar.
Buy your tickets here!
If signing up separately as a group, please list other group members’ names in the comments so the game organizer can put you on the same team.
This is not a train excursion, but a train themed event inside the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

Museum CLOSED Easter Sunday
2024-04-20 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Have a good holiday! We’ll be back on Monday.

Summer Exhibit Opening
2024-06-19 05:00 - 19:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
We are pleased to announce our summer exhibitions for 2024:
Lloyd E. Borg’s Depot Watercolors
Borg was a resident of Wayzata, Minnesota and took up watercolor painting at the age of 49. His intention was to capture disappearing American landscapes that were being forgotten as new technologies changed how Americans worked and traveled. One of his subjects was railroad depots in Minnesota that he painted on weekend trips with his wife in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Copper Range Railroad Traveling History Exhibit
The Copper Range Railroad operated in the upper peninsula of Michigan. It primarily hauled copper from the Keweenaw peninsula, but also carried lumber and other materials from the remote areas to connect with larger railroads such as the Soo Line. This exhibit made by the Michigan Technological University and Copper Country Historical Society, shares the story of this railroad. On display in the museum, we have the Copper Range No. 200, the last diesel in operation in the copper industry on the upper peninsula.
These exhibitions will be on display until Labor Day. We will be hosting a grand opening for these exhibits on Jun 19, 2024 from 5 pm to 7 pm, with snacks and a cash bar available. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there.

Plein Air Artists in the Museum
2024-07-20 10:00 - 17:00
On Saturday, July 20th, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum will be a painting location for the annual plein air conference for the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. Artists will be setting up their easles throughout the museum to paint trains, buildings, and more. Artwork will be on display in the museum after the event. Paintings will be for sale.
Regular admission applies. Members free.

Model Train Swap Meet
2024-09-28 10:00 - 17:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
This event is FREE, regular museum admission applies to visit the full-size trains and exhibits.
Vendors will be set up at the front of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum selling model trains and accessories. Cash only. ATM is available in North Shore Scenic Railroad Lobby.

CANCELLED - Minnesota Model Railroaders Event
2024-09-28 10:00 - 2024-09-30 12:00 | The Duluth Depot, 506 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Join us at the St. Louis County Depot to see the largest model railroad constructed in the Twin Ports. The model will be set up in the Great Hall of the Depot and it is free to see the display. The Minnesota Free-mo Modelers will be setting up their modular HO scale layout for one weekend only, don’t miss out!! The model layout will be available to view 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and from 10 am – 12 pm on Sunday!
This event in the Great Hall is free! Lake Superior Railroad Museum will also be open with regular admission $14/adult, $7/child (3-13), Members are free!

Trains & Toddlers
2024-10-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-11-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-12-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-01-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Join us for train stories, crafts and FUN!
Story time begins at 10:15am in the Zelda Theater followed by a craft. Free for members of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and kids 2 and under. Half price admission, adults $7 and kids $3.

Halloween Carnival
2024-10-27 15:00 - 18:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Come and join the LSRM Youth in their first annual Halloween Carnival! Show off your Halloween costume, do some Halloween crafts, trick or treating, and enjoy the kid-friendly spooky decorations throughout the museum!

This event is 1/2 price admission ($7/adults, $4/kids (3-13), free for Members and children 2 and under)

Duluth All Souls Night
2024-11-02 17:30 - 20:30 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Our annual event of respectful remembering & reimagining hosted by Duluth Community Fall Arts Festival/Duluth All Souls Night.
All are invited!
Night of: Come as you are, dress as a skeleton if you dare! Otherwise we suggest black. (Please reserve Dias de los Muertos to those of Mexican heritage.)Bring photocopies and/or small mementos to add our community altars to honor your lost beloved people/pets.
Write out and carry Rotten Ideas you’d like to see go extinct for our fire ceremony!
*Do not park on W Michigan St between the Depot and Library. Please leave the street between the Depot and Library as open as possible for our lantern procession. The W 4th Ave.S. Auto Park across W 5th Ave. S. is free evenings/ weekends. Enter thru the lower Depot doors of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. https://duluthtrains.com/directions/
This is a freewill donation event, suggested $10 to feed the live artists. Part of the evening is outdoors weather permitting. It will be likely be a bit cold – Minnesotans, be sure to layer up! *Returning attendees requested to be guides to Newbies throughout the evening!

4:30 Oasis del Norte food truck opens in Railroad Plaza, face paint5:30 pm Train Station Entrance: Northern Lights Aerials, displays6:00 LSRM Opening Ceremony: Jillian Forte & friends6:10 W 5th Ave S Side Depot Walkway – Funeral for Rotten Ideas: Follow the Grim Reapers & Sara Sha, bagpipes. Use crosswalks.6:20 Library Plaza Community Spiral Dance: led by Helen MakelaProjections by Daniel Benoit and River Aquamann, Yabobo drums6:30 Reading and burning Rotten Ideas6:45 Bob Dylan Way Lantern Procession east around the Auto Park back down to LSRM w/ the Boys Back Home brass and our new life-size, glowing, articulated moose!
7:15 Studio 4 Sadkin, alternative pop w/ giant Max Skeleton & others8:00 Closing Ceremony8:15 Railroad Plaza Spin Collective Fire Dances8:45 LSRM Tidy Up

Other 2024 DASN Dates:Skeleton vignettes starting Oct 2, including Lane Ellis collection of Mexican Folk FiguresTues., Oct. 22nd LSRM Altar Display Set-up 2-5 pm,Viewing available afterwards during LSRM Hours 10 – 5Fri., Nov. 1st Studio 4 Poetry Reading w/ MC Zomi Bloom 7-9 pmSun., Nov. 3rd 10 am – noon LSRM Finish dismantling Displays

*These activities are made possible in part by the voters of MN through organizational grants from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds. An Art Project grant funds artist stipends in the event.An Arts and Cultural Heritage grant supported the Giant Moose Lantern Puppet build led by UK artist, Andrew Kim, in June with nine MN artists. Leah Yellowbird did the final paint flourishes!Prior years support for giant Max Skeleton and Puppet Projection Chariot also from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC).

Museum Decorating Party
2024-11-19 16:00 - 20:00
We are happy to announce our first ever Museum Decorating Party! Do you like trains and the holidays? Then come down to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum to help us get ready for the holiday season. Snacks and drinks will be provided. This event is free for all participants!

Please sign up if you would like to attend so we know how much food to bring! Sign up here: https://forms.gle/s6Tg1sVBV6VysVLC6

Museum Closed: Thanksgiving Day
2024-11-28
Happy Thanksgiving! The Lake Superior Railroad Museum staff and volunteers are enjoying our turkey day celebrations with friends and family, but we will be back tomorrow!

Museum closes at 4:00 pm for Christmas City Express
2024-11-29, 2024-12-06, 2024-12-13, 2024-12-20 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
The museum will be closing early on this day for the performances of the Christmas City Express. For tickets to the Christmas City Express, please visit https://duluthtrains.com/event/christmascityexpress/

Museum closes at 3:00 pm for Christmas City Express
2024-11-30, 2024-12-07, 2024-12-14, 2024-12-21 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Grambsch Family Candy Making
2024-11-30 11:00 - 15:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
The Grambsch family will be making the candy on the original equipment used over a century ago to make hard candy. Candy demonstrations and free samples will be happening inside the museum at the replica of the Grambsch Candy Shop circa 1900, when Ben Grambsch was making candy in Loyal, Wisconsin. Join them for this annual tradition!

Admission to the museum is required to participate.

Holiday Season Kickoff at the Museum
2024-12-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Come and enjoy the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s holiday decorations after hours! Christmas music, Christmas cookies, and free hot chocolate will be available!
This event is half price admission ($7/adult, $4/kid (3-13), free for Members and children 2 and under.

Museum Closed: Christmas Eve and Christmas
2024-12-24 - 2024-12-25 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Merry Christmas train lovers! We hope you are enjoying opening presents and time with family. We will be back on 12/26!

Museum Closed: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
2024-12-31 - 2025-01-01 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Happy New Year! We look forward to a train-filled 2025!

Hot Stove Night - Wisconsin Fish Car History: Badger 1 and Badger 2
2025-03-20 06:00 - 20:00 | Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Thursday March 20th – Wisconsin Fish Car History: Badger 1 and Badger 2

Aaron Miller is the Operations Manager of the Les Voight Fish Hatchery in Bayfield and will discuss how railroads and the Wisconsin Fish Commission stocked lakes, rivers and streams by train using specially built and staffed train cars

6pm bar and complimentary snacks, 6:30pm presentation starts.
